This afternoon, in the good company of winemaker Gil Shatzberg and CEO Noam Jacoby of Recanati winery, I tasted or re-tasted five of the winery's newly released or about to be released wines. Good company, good conversation and good wines. My thanks to Gil and Noam for their courtesies.

My tasting notes follow. For the record, all but one of the wines were re-tasted blind earlier this evening in my own tasting room.

BestRogov

Recanati, Chardonnay, 2007: With its notes of melon, lemon, lemon peel and light hints of fresh sea air and minerality, calls to mind a Petit Chablis. Developed sur lie for several months, showing fine crispness and liveliness, a very good bet for summertime drinking. Drink now-2009.NIS 59. Score 88. K (Tasted 22 Jul 2008)

Recanati, Petite Sirah-Shiraz, Special Edition, 2007: Lives nicely up to the good reputation that this wine has earned in past years. A blend this year of 60% Petite Sirah and 40% Shiraz, dark royal purple in color, medium-bodied, showing soft, well integrated tannins and just the right note of dusty oak. On the nose and palate blackberries, blueberries and cassis, those matched nicely by notes of chocolate and mocha. Simultaneously "fun" and elegant. Drink now-2011.Price Not Yet Available. Score 90. K (Tasted 22 Jul 2008)

Recanati, Cabernet Franc, Reserve, 2006: With its once firm tannins now integrating nicely, showing medium-dark garnet, full-bodied, and reflecting its 14 months in oak with generous but not imposing sweet cedar. Opens with blueberries and blackberries, those going on to show black cherry and plum fruits highlighted by notes of tobacco, bell peppers and a hint of licorice, all lingering nicely on the finish. Drink now–2013. Score 91. K (Re-tasted 22 Jul 2008)

Thank you so much for continuing on your generous, exceptional, and quality posts of your recent winery visits! I am very much looking fowarding to tasting the Recanati Special Edition Petit Syrah-Shiraz, 2007 and Reserve Cabernet Franc, 2006. I sure hope that the new Special Edition bottles will be priced similarly to that of the 2006 release…

The wine is surely available at the Derekh HaYain (Wine Route) chain and at selected restaurants. I simply do not know if it is available elsewhere. Perhaps a phone call to the winery would answer the question....

Gary J wrote:I purchased my first few bottles of that special edition (2004) less than 2 years ago for about $15/bottle. Damn inflation!!!

I thought that the wine in question was first released in 2006. Have I missed something?

Daniel Rogov wrote:The wine is surely available at the Derekh HaYain (Wine Route) chain and at selected restaurants. I simply do not know if it is available elsewhere. Perhaps a phone call to the winery would answer the question....

Can't say that I am blushing, but I too was talking about the Petit Sirah/Zin blend. I did try the 2006 PS/Syrah blend while in Israel last year and thought it was great, but have never seen it here Stateside...